Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey colleges and universities to maintain FDA-approved opioid antidotes (like naloxone) in secure, accessible locations and develop policies for emergency use. It permits licensed campus medical staff and trained non-medical employees to administer antidotes in good faith when they reasonably believe someone is experiencing an opioid overdose. Institutions must ensure overdose victims are transported to hospitals after antidote administration and provide staff with required training on standardized protocols. The bill also provides liability protection for good-faith actions by campus staff, pharmacists, and prescribers under these guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state contracting agencies to award at least 30% of contracts to businesses owned by people who are socially or economically disadvantaged. Socially disadvantaged businesses include those owned by racial minorities, individuals with disabilities, or those facing disadvantages due to location or other factors. Economically disadvantaged businesses are those with limited capital, credit access, or low personal net worth compared to similar businesses. Agencies must create annual plans with the state department to meet this goal and adjust targets based on data.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the title of New Jersey's "Chief Diversity Officer" to "Chief Equity Officer" and creates the "New Jersey Office of Supplier Diversity and Business Opportunities" within the Department of the Treasury. The new Office will support the Chief Equity Officer in monitoring state contracts awarded to "small and diverse business enterprises" (including minority-owned, women-owned, economically disadvantaged, socially disadvantaged, and disabled veterans' businesses), processing business certifications, and developing outreach programs. State agencies must submit annual procurement plans and data to the Office, which will analyze these plans and provide feedback to improve contracting with diverse businesses. The Chief Equity Officer will report directly to the State Treasurer and oversee all efforts to increase transparency and participation of diverse businesses in state procurement.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale and distribution of certain consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in New Jersey, including apparel, carpet, cosmetics, food packaging, juvenile products, feminine hygiene products, ski wax, and textile articles. Starting three years after the bill's effective date, these products cannot be sold in the state unless they meet specific exemptions. The bill also requires manufacturers of cookware containing PFAS to label products with information about PFAS content, including a website address and QR code for more information, beginning one year after the effective date. Additionally, the bill restricts the use of class B firefighting foam containing PFAS for training purposes, requiring the use of non-fluorinated alternatives for firefighting training, beginning two years after the effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Minority and Women-Owned Businesses State Contractor Remedies Act" requiring New Jersey State agencies to set specific contract utilization goals for minority and women-owned businesses based on a 2024 disparity study. It sets detailed percentages for contracts across different categories, including 24.26% of construction contracts for women-owned businesses and 10.14% for Hispanic American-owned businesses. State agencies must develop annual plans to achieve these goals and make a "good faith effort" to meet them, with remedial actions required if they fail to do so. Prime contractors are also required to make good faith efforts to meet subcontractor goals for minority and women-owned businesses. The bill amends previous set-aside laws by removing goals for minority and women-owned businesses and shifting oversight to the Department of the Treasury's Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a program for building electrification and mandates electric public utilities to develop multi-year plans to replace fossil fuel systems with electric alternatives. The plans must meet specific greenhouse gas reduction targets and be cost-effective from a societal perspective, considering environmental benefits like reduced methane emissions. Key mechanisms include converting gas heating/water systems to electric heat pumps, replacing gas appliances with electric models (e.g., induction stoves), and funding contractor training programs. The bill directly affects electric utilities, building owners, and contractors by requiring systemic shifts toward electrified heating, cooking, and industrial processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for wrongful imprisonment claims in New Jersey by allowing two new groups to sue: individuals wrongfully civilly committed as "sexually violent predators" under P.L.1998, c.71, and those who entered guilty pleas but were later exonerated. It also clarifies that claimants have two years from their release (or conviction vacatur) to file suit, with a special two-year window for those affected after December 27, 2013. Damages now include $25,000 per year for time served on parole, probation, or as a registered sex offender after incarceration, in addition to existing compensation for wrongful conviction. The bill modifies existing statutes without changing the core calculation of damages (twice prior income or $50,000/year for incarceration).

Maddy summaryBill A4163 requires health insurers in New Jersey to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, management, or ongoing monitoring of diseases when supported by medical evidence such as FDA approvals, drug labels, or clinical guidelines. The bill applies to all health insurance plans including individual, group, Medicaid, and health maintenance organization contracts. Insurers must provide coverage without causing unnecessary disruption (like multiple biopsies) and must make prior authorization decisions within 24 hours for urgent requests or 72 hours for non-urgent requests. This ensures patients can access precision medical testing that's clinically supported without excessive administrative barriers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a framework for designating a Public Health Institute in New Jersey to strengthen public health infrastructure. It requires the Commissioner of Health to select a nonprofit entity meeting specific criteria (like being a 501(c)(3) organization with public health expertise) to serve as the Institute. The Institute will coordinate with state health agencies, provide administrative support, develop programs to address racial health disparities, and bridge gaps between public and private health services. A new Public Health Institute Fund within the Department of Health will provide dedicated funding for the Institute’s operations and initiatives.

Maddy summaryS 2236 exempts nursing mothers of children one year old or younger from jury duty in New Jersey. This change adds to existing hardship exemptions under N.J.S.2B:20-10(c)(3)(b), allowing mothers who are nursing or expressing milk to claim exemption without needing to prove additional financial or medical hardship. The policy directly affects nursing mothers summoned for jury service during their infant's first year. The law took effect immediately upon approval (P.L.2025, c.43) and applies to all jury summonses issued after that date.